The property is home to a cellar door, a wedding chapel and reception venue.

Ironbark Hill Brewhouse owner Andrew Drayton said the microbrewery was initially intended for somewhere for people to have drinks in between weddings and reception, but he soon realised it was going to be bigger than that.

They started brewing on-site in June last year and started selling to a couple of pubs and craft beer venues.

Ironbark Hill now has the capacity to brew up to 1200 litres a week and has installed a bottling line.

Mr Drayton said the microbrewery has had great feedback from visitors and locals, particularly on Hermitage Road.

He said craft beer adds to the diversity of attractions available for visitors.

“The Hunter Valley is becoming a bit more than just wine,” he said.

“It’s got beer, and places for kids to go, like Hunter Valley Gardens, and others things popping up all the time.”

Member for Hunter Joel Fitzgibbon officially opened the microbrewery on Friday evening and praised the owners for their entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Ironbark Hill Brewhouse is an example of a local business that's diversifying the Hunter's tourism appeal,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.

“Our growing local craft brewing sector is adding further to our diversity and economic wellbeing.”

Mr Fitzgibbon said the fact he encountered five local micro-brewers at Cessnock Stomp Festival last month is a sign of the pace of growth in the emerging industry.

But he said craft beer brewers are being held back by the current tax arrangements.

“It (the craft beer industry) could be growing quicker and creating more jobs if it were not for the unfair nature of the beer excise regime which discriminates against craft brewers,” he said.

Mr Fitzgibbon and fellow Labor MP Anthony Albanese have put a spotlight on the craft beer excise regime and have explored how policy can better support craft brewers.

“Anthony Albanese and I are campaigning to correct an anomaly which had its beginnings with the introduction of the GST,” he said.

“The current tax arrangements are a hangover from John Howard’s scramble to make sure beer didn’t get put under the GST.

“They’re unfair, and they’re skewed against the craft beer brewers.

“There are a number of craft brewers in the Hunter electorate, and I believe there’s a great opportunity to further diversify our tourism sector.”